Railway switch operating apparatus



March 19, 1946. J. w. LOGAN. JR 2,396,863

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1944; 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HI! VATIORNEY March 19, 1946. '4. w. LOGAN, JR.

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1944' 2 Sheets-Shea; 2

.IN VEN TOR Lo URL/1". BY

HIJ ATTORNEY- Patented Mar. 19, 1946 23m ns? UNIT ED STATES OFFI E RAILWAY SWITCH 1 APPARATUS J ohn W. Logan, Jr., Forest Pa.', assign or to The Union Switch & Signal -Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 17, 1944, Serial N0. 535,914"

8 Claims.

My invention relates to I railway switch operating apparatus; and particularly to switch operating apparatus for switches of the so-called spring return'type in which the switch-points set in a given position relative to the main railsof the track areadapted 'to yield laterallyagainst'the action of spring means when a train trails the switch, and to be retarded in the return move ment to the normalset position under the action of the spring retur'n'means by dash-pot or bufier' mechanism.-

More particularly, my present invention relates to railway switch" operating apparatus in which the spring means and dash-pot mechanism are combined into a unitary biasing and buffing device similar to that described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,191,246, granted to O; W. Anderson on February 20, 1940, for Railway switch piston and cylinder device, the said device being disposed between the switch and the switch operating mechanism.

In switch operating apparatusof the 'type'described there is a suddenreversal in the direction of loading on the biasing and buffing device following the'pass'age of each truck on a car trailing the. switch, and this sudden reversal causes a sudden shock to be transmitted through the biasing and buffing device to the operating parts of the switch'ope'rating mechanism. Inasmuch as some mechanical" clearance is necessary between the operating parts of the'switch operating mechanism, this sudden shock causes a hammering action which produces wear on all parts involved including the track switch itself.

One objectof my present invention is to provide means whereby the shock due to the sudden reversal in the directionof' the loading on the biasing and bufiing device is prevented from reaching the working parts of the switch operating mechanism;

According to my present invention, I accomplish the above outlined object by providing adjustable stop means which cooperates with the casing of the biasing and bu'fiing" device'in such manner that any sudden shocks'which are trans mitted to the biasing and bu'fling devicedue to reversals in the direction of loading of this device will be absorbed by the stop means, and will not therefore be transmitted to the working parts of" the switch operating mechanism. The provision of this stop means also reduces wear on the sw'itch points because. of the resulting reductionin the amountofmotion which can take place when theloading on the bufiing device becomesreversed. The present invention is directed to subject Herbert neoaeoi nebru wayswiieii oeeiaiin a s ia which applicamatter which is-closely related to thatfdisblosetr andclaimed in an applicatic letters Pat nt of the-United states-eerie nos zagea edb ti'on'is'of'cornnion owiiersliip with-the pis'eiitapr plication. v

other objects aria-char e ri features eti i invention willbeconie atria-refit as the description pro'cee'ds' I shall describe twoforifi's" of railway switch operating apparatuseiii-bodyifig my invention; aridshall then po'ii'it out the" never: features thereof in claims. w

In the accompanyin arawing'sgnig 1 is aide plan'view showing a spring switch controlled a switch operating mechan smcon'structd in ac cor'dance wit-h*niyinventiomx Fig. 2 isai'i'f l'a'rged topplan viewota portion ofthe me anismshoWn'inFi'g. 1 FigJIB f'is-adetail taken substantially-on the line In ilTII i Fig Fi'gA'is an end view partly sectional, of'thefor tion of the rhe'c'han shownin FigFZg Fi 5 isa'VieW s'iinilar'td Fi'g'. 4*sh'owirig a mddifidfdiifi ofmy invention." v

Similar reference characters "refer w siiiiiiiar' parts-in allfour viewsii 7 Referring first' to ig. 1', the reiereiieeciiaiacir A designates a 'la'i'lw'a'yj Switch comprising,- aS a1, two fixed rails" lfaiid I'd j and "two 'moi abl rails-or switch poi ts; and 2'a'.f The fixed "rails I and l a areiaid pritie plates! and are secured to crossties" 4' i i the usual" manner: The mcvatle rails" 2' and 20; 'areffasterfed toge'ther"by a front rod5; a head rodlifa bridle rod 1, and a tiered BQand fmay ,be'inoved-into a normal or a reverse position by r'h'eans ofa' switciroperajting inejcna-i nism B which is connected with tiienea ifrodtthrough the medium of a 'con'ibiiredbiasing and buffing-deviceDi When the "switch loccupies'its? n rmal position 'inwhi ch position'it Fig? 1', themovab eiaii 'Z'eng'ages-th fiiiediail I, "and themovable rail zai s spaced a slightis reversed, however; them'dvablefrail 2a thefien gages the xea 'rail 7 Ia ,-and the-mommeraiit" is spacedfrom tlienx'erlfail' l'. r

The combined biasin g arid bufii'i'ig device *Dis similar" in n respects to thatdesbribedin Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,191,246ieiir d" to hereinbefore, and itis believed, therefore; that forpurpo'ses offthe'pres'en't dis-ensure it"i suificie'iit to point cutiiiat'tiii s-aevice com cylindrical housing-lo whicfiis 'opeiatively' co" nc'ted atone'erid with the switch operating crank H of the switch operating mechanism B through the medium of an integral lug Illa and a pivot pin [2, and which is provided at the other end with a reciprocable operating rod l3. The operating rod I3 is slidably supported intermediate its ends in a supporting bracket [4 secured to two adjacent ties 4, and is adjustably connected at its free end to the head rod 6 through themedium of the usual switch basket 9. The operating rod I3 is biased by suitable spring means enclosed within the housing It, to an intermediate position relative to the housing in such manner that movement of the operating rod in either direction from its intermediate position will cause the spring means to become compressed and exert a yieldable force on the operating rod which tends to is moved to the left, by virtue of its connection to the switch operating crank H, to its normal extreme position in which it acts to bias the switch points to their normal positions, and if the switch points then occupy their normal positions, as will be the case if no train is trailing the switch and all parts are in proper working order, the locking plunger [8 will enter the notch 19 in the lock rod L and will lock the switch points in their normal extreme positions.

When it is desired to reverse the switch points,

I the hand throw lever I! is rotated from the extreme position shown to its opposite extreme position. As was pointed out hereinbefore, this movement of the hand throw lever will first act to withdraw thelocking plunger 18 from the return it to its intermediate position relative to the housing. nested within the housing ID with double acting bufiing means which become effective upon movement of the. operating rod by the spring means to limit the rate of movement of the operatin rod;to edetermined controlled rate which is sufiiciently slow to prevent slapping of the switch points. between the passage of successive wheels ortrucks of a car or train trailing the switch, as will appear more fully hereinafter. 5

a The switchoperating mechanism 13 maybe of any suitable type, but as here shown it is similar to that described and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,235,031, granted to Kenneth J. J.- McGowan on March 18, 1941, for Railway switch operating apparatus. For a clear understanding of' my present invention it is sufficientto point out that this mechanism comprises a suitable casing l5 containing a switch actuating shaft It provided at its lower end with the switch operating crank l [mentioned above. This mechanism also comprises a hand throw lever I! which is rotatable between two extreme positions, and which is'. operatively connected through themedium of a pinion, a rack, and an escapement crank not shown, with the switch operating shaft iii in such manner that rotation of the hand throw lever between its two extreme positions will rotate the switch. operating crank l6 between its two extreme positions. The mechanism further comprises a locking plun er I8 which islbiased' to a locking position, and which ingits locking 'position enters a notch [9 in a lock .rodL secured to the front rod 5 of the switch A 'to lock the switch in its normal extreme position,l'as'.shown. The locking plunger is operatively connected with the hand throw lever 11 throughthe medium of the previously mentioned motion plate in such manner that when the hand throw lever is operated in the direction to move theswitchaway from itsnormal extreme position, the locking plunger willbe moved to an unlocking position in which it is completely withdrawn from the notch 19 prior to any movement ofthe switch points. The locking plunger is also operatively connected by means, of suitable linkage 20 with the .tie rod 8. When'a train starts to trail the switch, this'latter linkage is mechanicallyactuated through the medium of the tie'rod 8 in a manner which causes it to move the locking plunger to'its unlocking position before sufficient force is exerted on theswitch points by the train to overcome the biasing force of the device D. 1

The operation'asa whole of the portion of the apparatus thus far described is as follows: When the hand throw lever I1 is rotated to its normal extreme position as shown,thefbuffing device D- The operating rod. is also connotch 19 in the lock rod L, and will then act to move the switch operating crank H from its normal to its reverse extreme position. The movement of the crank H to its reverse extreme position, in turn, will move the device D bodily toward the track to its reverse extreme position, and will thus cause it to move the switch points to and yieldably hold them'in their reverse extreme positions.

After the switch has been moved to its reverse extreme position in the manner just described it can be restored to its normal extreme position by restoring the hand throw lever to its normal extreme position. The subsequent movements of the parts under these conditions is just the reverse of those just described, and will be obvious from the foregoing and from an inspection of the drawings without further detailed description.

When a train trails the switch, as the leading wheels of the train roll along the fixed rail l and the mova-ble'ra-il 2a, the movable rails 2 and 2a will be forced over laterally, but before a sumcient force is developed to overcome the opposing force exerted by the device D and cause the point of the movable rail 2 to move out of engagement with the fixed rail I, the movable rails being somewhat resilient will become bent, so that with a standard split switch sufiicient lateral movement of the rails will take place to cause the linkage 20 to move the lockingplu'nger 18 to its unlocking position. As a result, when the leading wheels of the train have reached the positions in which a sufficient force is developed to cause the point of the movable rail 2 to move out of engagement with the fixed rail 1, the switch points will be unlocked, and the switch point will therefore be forced open in opposition to the biasing force exerted by the device D in exactly the same manner as would be the case if no point lock were provided, and the device B will perform its further function of preventing the rails from returning to their original set positions after the passage of each wheel through them. When the train which is trailing the switch has completely passed the switch, the movable rail will slowly return to their normal positions under the bias of the spring means of the device D and against the retarding force exerted by the bufling means of the device D. When the rails reach their full normal positions, the locking plunger will return to its looking position due .to its associated biasing means, and all parts will be restored to the positions shown. 7

I have found that with the switch points biased totheir' normal positions by means of the device D in the manner described above, each time the truck of a car which is trailing the switch clears the switch points, a slightamount of return movement of the switch points, usually about inch,

egeoegsee takes place before the. bufiing action of-thedevice D become .efiective; and r as .a: result when :the bufiing action does .become-=efiective,. a certain amount of momentum of thgpoints, andof the parts of-the buiiing device which move with thepoints, has been built updue in part to the action of the .spring biasingmeans of the device,- and in part to the fact that since the points when trailed are moved past their mid stroke positions, the inherent. resiliency of the points setsup a. force which tends to return the point to their "mid stroke positions. Consequently, when the buifing action of the device D does become effective, the device D momentarilyloses its characteristics as a flexible member and acts as a .rigid'link. As a result, unless suitable mean are'provided to prevent it, the momentum of the. parts will cause a sudden shock to be transmitted to the switch op: erating crank I I, and hence to the operating parts of the mechanism'B, and since there is necessarily a certain amount of clearance between these parts, wear on all parts including the track switch itself is greatly accelerated. This is undesirable and according to my present invention I provide stopemeans which I shall now describe whereby the shock due to the sudden reversal of the load in the device D under the conditions described above is prevented from reaching any of the working parts of the mechanism.

Referring now'also to Figs. 2, 3 and 4,. this stop means comprises a stop stud 2| secured as by riveting to a supporting member 22 which extends transversely of the device D adjacent the end nearest the mechanism B. As shown, the member 22 is inthe form of an angle bar, and rests at its ends on uprightsupports 23 secured to two of the adjacent ties 4 by means of bolts 25 or their equivalent. The member 22 is adjustably secured to the supports 23 in an adjusted position by means of tap bolts 26 which extend through slots 21 I in the one. flange of the member and are screwed into threaded holes 28 provided in the supports. To facilitate adjusting the member 22 relative to the supports, horizontal studs 28 are riveted to the vertical flange of the member and extend with clearance through transversel extending holes 30 provided inthe support 23. Mounted on-the studs on opposite sides of the vertical flange of themember 22 are adjusting nuts 3|. 2

With the parts of the stop means constructed inthis manner it will be obvious that when the tap bolts 26 are loosened, the slots 2! permit the supporting member 22 to be moved toward or away from the mechanism B to positions determined by the positions of the nuts. The member 22 is so adjusted that when the parts of the switch A and switch operating mechanism B occupy their normal positions as shown in Fig. 1, the stud 2| will just touch the end face of the device D at the end nearest the mechanism B. The point at which the stud touches the end face of the device is not important but as shown the point of contact of the stud with the end face is near the upper edge of the .end face directly above its center line, this point being disposed between the adjacent bolts or studs (not shown) which secure the head to the tubular casing of the device. With the parts positioned and adjusted in this manner, any force which is exerted on the device D tending to move it bodily toward the mechanism B when the mechanism B is in its normal position will be transmitted directly from thedevice to the stop stud 2 Lirather than to the working-.partsof the mechanism'through the crankzl I. Itfollows, therefore,

thatwhena trainitrails the switch, the Stopmeans will act to :efiectivelyzprevent. wear FOIL the working 'parts'tofitthe mechanismilBixdue' to. the-smomentaryreversal in theiforce'which is exerted on the device .1) each timearwheeliof a train which is trailing the .asw-iteh clears :"the i switch. points, whereby the life of the switch operating apparatus is greatlylengthen'ed:

It should be 'noted that since-the adjustable stop means only engagesthe device .Dwhen the parts are-inrtheir 1 normal positions, the stop means doesnotuinterfere at any time with the normal operation of the parts;

It should also :benoted while-as illustrated in Fig. 1, I have :shown stop; means embodying, -my invention applied to a normally closed point layout, it. canralso cbeeapplied :toa normally open point layout ,by merelymoving. the. stop means to the-.:opposite end of the device and adjusting the member 22 sso'xthat twith-sthe parts in their normal positions the. stop stud 2! .will just touch the end face -of the-therrz-adjacent'head oi the device.

Referring now tocFi'g; 5,v I havehereshown a modified:formrofstop means which .can be'used inaplace of that shown. in the. preceding views when, the .device .D is ,used incombination with certain types of; switch :operating ,mechahisms. As here shown, the stopmeanscomprises astop screw 32 adjustablyscrewedinto a .boss lilbprovided in the. one head .of the .device D, and so adjusted that when the parts are all in their nor-. mal positions the :headzofrthe stop meanswill engage arelativelytstrongfixed part of: the mechanism: such as the-side edge ofthebase flange of the casing; ThGzStOp screw isi arranged to be lockedinits adjustedrpositionxby means of a lock nut 33;

adjusted and; arranged as. just described, .any force which is exerted. on. the device .D. tending to move it bodilyitowardthe mechanism B when the operating'aparts of the mechanism. B are in their normal. positions will. be transmitted through the'stopstudto thecasing/of the mechanism rather than tothe operating parts of the mechanism through the crank II. It 'follows, therefore,- thatthe .stopimeanskshown in Fig. 5 will act to prevent wear 'in the same manner as the stop means shown in- Figs. 1 to 4,. inclusive.

Although; I .have herein. shown and. described only two forms of railwayswitch operating apparatus embodying. my :invention, it; is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the. spirit and scope of myinvention.

Having thus described myinvention what I claim is:

1. The combination. with a spring switch connected withv a switch. operatingmechanism through a device which acts to yieldably resist movement of the switch; points away from a set position and to retard the. return movement of the points to .their setposition when a train trails the switch,- ofcstop means interposed be-v tween aportion'of: the: casing of. said device that is non-yieldably connected to said switch operating mechanismand a fixed member and effective upon a reversalin the direction of theforce applied to said device while av train is trailingthe switch toprevent. thectransmis'sion of shocks through said. device to the operating parts of said mechanism.

. 2. The combination. with a-"spring 'switch cene nected with a switch operating mechanism through a combined biasing and bufiing device which acts to yieldably resist movement of the switch points away from a set position and to retard the return movementorv the switch points to their set position when a train trails the switch, of stop means for preventing the transmission of shocks through said: device to said operating mechanism after the passage of each wheel or truck of a train trailing the switch, said stop means comprising" a' supporting member extending transversely of said device adjacent one end of said device and adjustably supported at its ends on fixed supports for movement toward and away from said device, and a stop member secured to said supporting member for cooperation with said one end of said device, said supporting member being adjusted so that any movement of said device due to the transmission of sudden shocks thereto following the passage of a wheel or truck through the switch will be prevented by engagement of said device with said stop member.

3. The combination with a spring switch connected with a switch operating mechanism through a combined biasing and buffing device the switch points start to return to their set positions will be prevented by engagement of said which acts to yieldably resist movement of the switch points away from a set position and to retard the return movement of the switch points to their set position when a train trails the switch, of stop means for preventing the transmission of shocks through said device to said operating mechanism after the passage of each wheel or truck of a train trailing the switch, said stop means comprising asupporting member extending transversely of said device adjacent one end of said device and adjustably supported at its ends on two adjacent ties for movement toward and away from said device, and a stop member securedto said supporting member for cooperation with said one end of said: device, said supporting member being adjusted so that any movement of said device due to the transmission of shocks thereto following the passage of 'a wheel or-truck through the switch will be prevented by engagement of said device with said stop member.

4. The combination with a spring switch connected with a switch operating mechanism through arcombined biasing and bufiing device which acts to yieldably resist movement of the switch points away from a set position and to retard the return movement of the switch points to their set position when a train trails the switch, of stop meansfor preventing the transmission'of sudden shocks through said device to said operating mechanism after the passage of each wheel or truck of a train trailing the switch, said stop means comprising a pair of supports secured to two adjacent ties at one end of said device, a supporting member resting at its ends on said supports and adjustablysecured thereto by means of tap bolts passing through slots provided in said member and screwed into tapped holes provided in said supports,.means for adjusting said supporting member relative to said supports comprising studs secured to said supporting member and extending through clearance holes formed in said supports and provided on opposite sides of said supports with adjusting nuts, and a stop member secured to said supporting member and cooperating with the casing of said device, said supporting member being adjusted so that any movement of said device due to the transmission of shocks thereto when device with said stop member.

5. The combination with a spring switch connected with the operating crank of a switch operating mechanism through a combined biasing and buffing device including a casing pivotally attached atone end to said crank and movable toward and away from the switch in response to movement of said crank and an operating rod slidably supported in theother end of said casing and operatively connected at its free end with said switch, said device acting to yieldably resist movement of the switch points away from a set position and to retard the return movement of the switch points to their set position when a train trails the switch, of stop means for preventing the transmission of shock through said device to the operating parts of said mechanism each time the switch points start to return to their set position, said stop means comprising a supporting member extending transversely of said device at the end which is connected to said crank, means for securing said supporting'memher in a position which is adjustable relative to said device, and a stop stud secured to said supporting member, the position of said supporting member relative to said device being so adjusted that any movement of said device due to the transmission of shocks thereto each time the switch points start to return to their set position from a displaced position will be prevented by engagement of said stud with the end of said casing.

6-. The combination with a spring switch connected with a switch operating mechanism through a device which acts to yieldably resist movement of the switch points away from a set position and to retard the return movement of the points to'their set position when a train trails the switch of an adjustable stop screw attached to a portion of the casing of said device that is non-resiliently connected to said mechanism and adjusted to cooperate with a fixed part of said mechanism upon a reversal in the direction of the force applied to said device while a train is trailing the switch to prevent the transmission of shock through said device to the operating parts of said mechanism.

7. The combination with a spring switch connected with a switch operating mechanism through a device which acts to yieldably resist movement of the switch points away from a set position and to retard the return movement of the points to their set position when a train trails the switch of adjustable stop means interposed between a portion of the casingof said device that is non-resiliently connected to said mechanism and a fixed part of said mechanism. and adjusted to act upon a reversal in the direction of the force applied to said device while a train is trailing the switch to prevent the transmission of shocks through said device to the operating parts of said mechanism. a

8. The combination with a spring switch connected with the operating crank of a switch operating mechanism through a combined biasing and bufiing device including a casing pivotally attached at one end to said crank and movable toward and away from the switch in response to movement of said crank and an operating rod slidably supported in the other end of said casing and operatively connected at its free end with said switch, said device acting 'to yieldably resist movement of the switch points away'from one end of said casing and adjusted to cooperate with a fixed part of said mechanism upon a reversal in the direction of the force applied to said device while a, train i trailing the switch to prevent the transmission of shock through said device to the operating parts of said mechanism.

JOHN W. LOGAN, JR. 

